As I’ve mentioned, I’ve been taking the conventional train to my job in Yatsushiro, not only as it is cheaper than the Shinkansen, but I can enjoyably observe morning commuters’ two favorite hobbies: snatching a few more ZZZs or staring at their cellphones. It’s worth the price of the ticket. But apparently, Japan is moving ahead with magnetically levitated trains that could reduce the travel time between Tokyo and Osaka to less than that of an airplane. (Fares will probably be, like, really expensive.) I hope that they build one between Kumamoto and Yatsushiro so that I can arrive an hour before I left. - William